Senate Bill No. by Senator Abraham amends and reenacts various sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes concerning the State Licensing Board for Contractors. The bill introduces new definitions such as "commercial construction," "dwelling unit," "manufactured home," and "modular home," while updating existing definitions to clarify contractors' responsibilities. It establishes new provisions regarding the board's domicile, powers, duties, and administrative fees. The bill also sets specific license requirements, mandating that applicants and their qualifying parties be U.S. citizens or legal residents, and outlines conditions for issuing or denying licenses.

Additionally, the bill enhances regulatory measures by requiring applicants to submit a financial statement from a certified accountant and increasing minimum liability insurance coverage from $100,000 to $500,000 for residential construction. It mandates that the board be notified within 30 days if a qualifying party disassociates from a license, with a new qualifying party designated within 60 days. New compliance measures include providing good faith cost estimates for property damage repairs and expanding the board's authority to revoke or suspend licenses for non-compliance. The bill also allows the board to retain 4% of collected fines as an administrative fee, with the remaining funds directed to the Construction Educational Trust Fund, and is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB326 Original: 37:1(3), 37:2152(A)(2), 37:2155(G)(3), 37:2156(K)(3), 37:1(B)(1), 37:2(B)(2), 37:2157(A)(15), 37:2158(C), 37:2164(A), 37:2157(A)(19)